Teenager can thrive in elite company if he is allowed to play for England the
way he does for the Anfield club

Brendan Rodgers says Raheem Sterling will be a star of the World Cup if given the freedom to perform for England as he does for Liverpool.

Sterling is one of five Liverpool players in the 23-man squad heading to Brazil, the 19-year-old having earned his place after an impressive second half of the season.

Sterling has thrived in an adventurous format and Rodgers said his success would be dependent on how he is used.

“If he is given the opportunity to play how he can play – he is an offensive player, an attacking player, creative player who works hard – he could be one of the stars of the World Cup for me,” Rodgers said. “If he is given that opportunity in whatever position, whether at the point of a diamond or on the sides. As a 19-year-old boy let’s not forget he has been one of the top players in the Premier League, one of the most competitive leagues in the world, and if he continues to have that confidence to play with no fear he could be a really stand out player if he is asked to play that way.

“He has already shown that he can play in a league that is not just a British league but a league full of world-class, international players. His best games have been against the best teams – Arsenal, United and Manchester City – so he is more than capable.”

Roy Hodgson insists that, despite the base of players from clubs playing a more purist style, he will not be adopting any particular blueprint but his own.

Rodgers is wary of suggesting the presence of players familiar with each other will inevitably create more understanding on the pitch.

“It’s not as easy as having that core because the whole mindset has to be aligned. The success we have here at Liverpool is because we are a team and we are very much focused on a real belief in a way of working and a way of playing. That is about culture and environment. If you take those players out and play them in their positions and play similar players around who understand the philosophy and have the mentality then of course they could do very well, but it is certainly not as easy as taking the players out because it is about an attitude to the game which is important. There are a lot of reasons why they wouldn’t be the same.

“People see our movement and fluidity and there is a freedom within that but there is still a responsibility when you haven’t got the ball.”

Ahead of the World Cup, Rodgers hopes to complete as much transfer business as possible.

“Ideally you would want to get things done beforehand but it is difficult because transfers are so complex, especially if you are doing a big signing,” he said. “It does make it difficult but the club and ourselves have been preparing for quite a few months now so we will try and get the business done as early as we can.

“I live in the real world and I need to plan and prepare for if we don’t. You can plan early but sometimes with the madness of football you will find things don’t get done until the last 48 hours of the window. We have the core of the squad now, that helps. Two years ago when I came in, I was looking to introduce new ideas but a lot of the players weren’t there because of the European Championship. That affected the start of the season. At least this summer we have the principles bedded in place and the players that will come in will be the profile of what we want. It should be better for us this summer.

“It’s about the quality. We can’t be going into the Champions League with doubts about players. We have to be going in knowing what the players’ capacity to play is and their capabilities.”

Concluding a deal for Adam Lallana is Liverpool’s first priority but Liverpool value the 26-year-old at £20 million while Southampton want closer to £30 million.